DK2822857T3

DK2822857T3 - packaging line

Info

Publication number: DK2822857T3
Application number: DK13711844.4T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Nelson Da Costa Moreira; Tilman Naeher; Rolf Rein
Original assignee: Gea Food Solutions Germany Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-03-07
Filing date: 2013-03-05
Publication date: 2017-01-09
Also published as: EP2822857A2; ES2690159T5; EP2822857B1; WO2013131863A3; PL3133022T3; ES2690159T3; EP3133022A2; WO2013131863A2; ES2607111T3; PL2822857T3; EP3133022B2; DK3133022T3; DE102012004341A1; EP3133022B1; EP3133022A3; US20150019005A1

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging line, preferably a food packaging line, comprising a packaging machine and at least one further component, wherein the packaging machine and the component respectively have at least partially a local control system, for example a stored-program controller, and the packaging line has a closed-loop/open-loop line control system. The present invention also relates to a method for operating a packaging line comprising a packaging machine and at least one further component, wherein the packaging machine and each component respectively have at least partially a local closed-loop/open-loop control system and the packaging line has a closed-loop/open-loop line control system.

Such food packaging lines are known from the prior art, for example EP 1 323 634 A, and are used for packing food, in particular protein-containing food, such as for example cooked meat, cheese or ham, but also fresh meat and the like, in packs. Apart from a packaging machine, for example a form-fill-seal packaging machine (FFS packaging machine) or a so-called tray sealer, such a food packaging line also has at least one further component, which is located upstream and/or downstream of the packaging machine. This may be for example a cutting-up device, a loading device and/or a portioner, which for example divides up and/or forms a mass of minced meat into specific portions, and/or a pack singling machine, which arranges streams of packs arriving in multiple rows into for example a stream of packs of a single row, and/or a detector, with which for example metal foreign bodies included in the pack are detected, and/or a scanner, with which the outer contour and/or the inner structure for example of a block of food are determined. Such food packaging lines may be of a considerable length. In the case of the food packaging lines according to the prior art, the packaging machine and at least partially each further component have a local operator control unit, with which the packaging machine or each further component can be set and at which a fault that has occurred can be acknowledged after it is rectified. Furthermore, the food packaging lines according to the prior art have a line control system with a separate operator control unit, which controls the line and from which the line can be started and/or stopped. In the event of a fault on the packaging machine or a further component, the operating personnel must first make their way to this unit, establish the fault, rectify it and acknowledge it. After that, the operating personnel must make their way to the line control system and start the line again from there. As a result, either the food packaging line is out of action for a considerable time and/or a very large number of personnel have to be kept on standby to allow faults occurring to be rectified quickly.

It was therefore the object of the present invention to provide a packaging line, in particular a food packaging line, and a method for operating a packaging line, in particular a food packaging line, that do not have the disadvantages of the prior art.

The object is achieved by a packaging line according to Claim 1.

The present invention relates to a packaging line, in particular a food packaging line. Such food packaging lines are used for packing food, in particular protein-containing food, such as for example cooked meat, cheese or ham, but also fresh meat and the like, in packs. Apart from a packaging machine, for example a form-fill-seal packaging machine (FFS packaging machine) or a so-called tray sealer, according to the invention the food packaging line also has at least one further component, which is located upstream and/or downstream of the packaging machine. This may be for example a balance, a scanner, with which the outer contour and/or the inner structure for example of a block of food are determined, a cutting-up device, a loading device, and/or a portioner, which for example divides up and/or forms a mass of minced meat into specific portions, and/or a pack singling machine, which arranges streams of packs arriving in multiple rows into for example a stream of packs of a single row, and/or a detector, with which for example metal foreign bodies included in the pack are detected. However, a further component of the food packaging line may also be a labeler or a printer for printing labels .

The closed-loop/open-loop line control system may be part of the local control system or a dedicated unit separate from a component or the packaging machine.

Also according to the invention, the packaging machine and the further component(s) have at least partially a local closed-loop/open-loop control system. These closed-loop/open-loop control systems control the function of the packaging machine or the respective component. According to the invention, there is additionally a closed-loop/open-loop line control system, with which the function of the line is controlled.

According to the invention, the packaging machine and at least partially each component respectively have an operator control unit, for example an operator control panel, and it is provided that the closed-loop/open-loop line control system can be activated from a number of operator control units, preferably from all of them. As a result, it is possible according to the invention to control the food packaging line from each operator control unit. It is similarly possible according to the invention to rectify locally a fault that occurs on the packaging machine or a component and to start the food packaging machine again from this operator control unit. It is accordingly not necessary for the operating personnel for example first to rectify the fault locally and then make their way to the operator control unit of the closed-loop/open-loop line control system, in order to restart the food packaging machine from there. Consequently, the distances that the operating personnel have to cover, for example to rectify a fault, are reduced considerably. A preferred subject of the present invention is a food packaging line in the case of which data from the packaging machine and any other component of the food packaging line can be retrieved from each operator control unit. This embodiment of the present invention that is provided according to the invention or is preferred makes it possible to view status messages of the packaging machine or of another component, and acknowledge fault messages possibly occurring, from the operator control unit of the packaging machine or any other component. A preferred subject of the present invention is a packaging line, in particular a food packaging line, which preferably has an operator control unit, in particular a mobile operator control unit, for the packaging machine and/or each further component. In particular, in the case of this embodiment of the present invention that is provided according to the invention or is preferred, the food packaging line has fewer operator control units than the packaging machine plus component (s) . Preferably, the food packaging line that is provided according to the invention or is preferred has just a single operator control unit. This operator control unit is in particular a mobile operator control unit, with which the packaging machine and any other component of the packaging line can be operated and/or programmed and with which the packaging line can be controlled, that is to say for example started and stopped. From the mobile operator control unit, for example, the status of the packaging machine and any other component of the food packaging line can be inquired. Preferably, the mobile operator control unit communicates wirelessly with a transmitting/receiving unit of the food packaging line. Alternatively or additionally, fault messages on the packaging machine or any other component can be acknowledged from the operator control unit. Furthermore, it is possible to use the mobile operator control unit to perform a modification in the formulation. The fact that just one mobile unit is provided means that the food packaging line only has to have one transmitting/receiving unit. This has the result for example that the length of the cabling within the food packaging line can be reduced considerably, and it is possible to do without a number of operator control units. A preferred subject of the present invention is a food packaging line in the case of which the local stored-program controllers exchange data and/or commands bidirectionally. This embodiment of the present invention that is provided according to the invention or is preferred allows that data or commands are exchanged between the local stored-program controllers. This makes it possible to inquire the status of the packaging machine or any other component from the operator control unit of any other component, to acknowledge fault messages and for example to modify the formulation of the food packaging line or control the entire food packaging line, that is to say also start and stop it, from one operator control unit. It is also preferred for it to be possible to access the closed-loop/open-loop line control system from any local closed-loop/open-loop control system.

Another subject of the present invention is a method for operating a packaging machine, in particular of a food packaging line according to Claim 5.

The method according to the invention makes it possible to rectify locally a fault that occurs on the packaging machine or a component, to acknowledge the fault and to start the food packaging line again from this operator control unit. It is accordingly not necessary for the operating personnel first to rectify the fault locally and then make their way to the operator control unit of the closed-loop/open-loop line control system, in order to restart the food packaging line from there. Consequently, the distances that the operating personnel have to cover to rectify a fault are reduced considerably, whereby the operating time of the food packaging line is increased considerably.

The packaging machine and the other component(s) of the packaging machine according to the invention are preferably stopped or started in a specific sequence. The starting and stopping of the packaging line according to the invention are preferably performed in such a way that as little food as possible or fewest possible packs have to be discarded. A preferred subject of the present invention is a method in which each local closed-loop/open-loop control system initiates and/or controls a predefined functional sequence of the food packaging line. The method that is provided according to the invention or is preferred makes it possible to control the food packaging line, in particular start and stop it, from each operator control unit. At the same time or alternatively, modifications to the food packaging method may be performed from each operator control unit. For example, the formulation of the packs to be produced can be modified from each operator control unit. A preferred subject of the present invention is therefore a method in which a modification in the formulation is carried out from any desired operator control unit. The formulation no longer has to be modified from the operator control console of the line control system. It may be performed from the operator control unit of the packaging machine or of another component.

Preferably, a central formulation management can be accessed from the operator control unit of the packaging machine or any other component. This central formulation management comprises the respective formulation programs for the packaging machine or for each individual component. For example, the programs have different numbers/names and the programs are stored as specifically matching the packaging machine or each individual component. Such a formulation program may for example contain data on which product is to be cut up by a cutting-up device, the weight of the respective portions or the configurations (for example piled up or overlapping) and the kind of packaging in which the respective pack is to be packed. The formulation program may also contain data on how the atmosphere in the pack is to be constituted and/or how the label of the pack is to be designed. Preferably, the open-loop/closed-loop control system of the food packaging machine is designed such that it can only be started when the respective programs are stored in the packaging machine or in the respective component. For the case where a certain tool is required for a specific formulation, starting of the packaging line is preferably only possible when this corresponding tool is installed in the packaging machine or in the component.

In the event of a malfunction, the packaging machine or another component of the food packaging line issues a fault message. After rectifying the fault, the food packaging line is started again at this packaging machine or other component from the operator control unit of the defective packaging machine or component. A person skilled in the art appreciates that the described subjects of the present invention apply equally to the case where the control system and operator control unit of the packaging machine are not integrated at all in the packaging line, for example whenever there happens to be an old packaging machine with an old control system provided in a new packaging line, the old control system not being compatible with the closed-loop/open-loop line control system. The descriptions apply equally and similarly to this case, wherein for example then only a food packaging line with a slicer and at least one further component located upstream and/or downstream is provided.

The inventions are explained below on the basis of Figures 1 and 2. These explanations are given merely by way of example and do not restrict the general concept of the invention. The explanations apply equally to all of the subjects of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the food packaging line according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of the packaging line according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the packaging line according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the food packaging line according to the invention. This has in the present case three components 5, 6, 7. The component 7 is in the present case a packaging machine, in particular a so-called form-fill-seal packaging machine (FFS packaging machine), and the component 5 is for example a cutting-up device, with which a block of food is cut up into slices of food, which are configured into portions of for example ten slices of food each. The component 6 is for example a loader, with which cut-up portions are placed into the pack trays of the packaging machine. Each component 5, 6, 7 has a local stored-program controller (SPC) 3.5, 3.6, 3.7. Furthermore, in the case of the embodiment according to Figure 1, each component 5, 6, 7 has an operator control unit 2.5, 2.6, 2.7. In addition, the food packaging line 1 according to the invention has a closed-loop/open-loop line control system 4. This closed-loop/open-loop line control system 4 may be part of one of the components 5, 6, 7, but also a separate component/subassembly. As Figure 1 reveals, data and commands can be respectively exchanged bidirectionally between the local SPCs 3.5, 3.6, 3.7.

Furthermore, each local SPC 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 is also connected bidirectionally to the closed-loop/open-loop line control system 4. The closed-loop/open-loop line control system does not have a dedicated operator control unit. According to the invention, it is thus possible to control the entire food packaging line, that is to say start and/or stop it, from each operator control unit. Furthermore, it is possible according to the invention to check the status of all the components 5, 6, 7 of the food packaging line according to the invention, and acknowledge faults that are possibly indicated, from each operator control unit. If, for example, a fault occurs on the packaging machine 7, the operating personnel can rectify the fault there and restart the food packaging line from the operator control unit 2.7. Furthermore, it can be checked from the operator control unit 2.7 whether for example the cutting-up device 5 is functioning properly. A change of formulation can also be initiated from one of the operator control units 2.5, 2.6, 2.7. This change of formulation is then transmitted to the closed-loop/open-loop line control system, which transmits the corresponding information to the respective components. Furthermore, a modification in the formulation can be initiated from the operator control unit 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, for example if there is a fault in a formulation. This modification of the formulation is then transmitted to the closed-loop/open-loop line control system, which transmits the corresponding information to the respective components. The fact that the open-loop/closed-loop line control system can be addressed from each operator control unit and/or that the food packaging line according to the invention can be controlled, that is to say for example started and/or stopped, from each operator control unit, means that the operating personnel are spared from going considerable distances, for example in the event of a malfunction of the packaging line according to the invention. If, for example, the food packaging line according to the invention is to be temporarily run empty in the case of a breakfast break, a corresponding command can be entered into one of the operator control units 2.5, 2.6, 2.7. The food packaging line according to the invention is then preferably programmed such that the components 5, 6 are run completely empty, i.e. all of the blocks of food present in the cutting-up device are cut up completely into portions, and any remaining pieces that may be present are disposed of. After that, all of the complete portions that are located on the loader 6 are placed into the pack trays, which have for example been molded into a web of sheet material in the packaging machine, until the loader 6 has also been emptied completely. Incomplete portions, i.e. underweight portions, are preferably disposed of. Furthermore, all of the pack trays in the packaging machine in which there are slices of food are closed, so that they are not contaminated during the breakfast break. For the case where the pack trays of one format cannot be completely filled with slices of food, several packs are nevertheless closed with a cover sheet as so-called empty packs and subsequently discarded. After the breakfast break, the food packaging line according to the invention can then be started up again, by a block of food being placed into the cutting-up device and cut up. If, on the other hand, the food packaging according to the invention is to be shut down for a lengthy period of time, for example overnight, not only are the components 5, 6 run completely empty, but also all of the pack trays molded into the web of sheet material are removed from the packaging machine. Such a complete stop of the packaging line according to the invention may also be used for example for a change of format.

In Figure 2, substantially the same embodiment of the food packaging line according to Figure 1 is represented, with the difference that in the present case all of the components have just one operator control unit. This makes it possible to do without considerable lengths of cabling and the respective operator control units. The operator control unit 2 is preferably a mobile operator control unit, for example a tablet computer. This operator control unit 2 is preferably connected wirelessly to the food packaging line 1 according to the invention. For this purpose, the food packaging line according to the invention preferably has a transmitting/receiving unit, which can communicate bidirectionally, preferably wirelessly, with the operator control unit 2. From this operator control unit 2, all of the components of the food packaging line can be controlled, that is to say for example started and stopped. Furthermore, the status of each component can be inquired, and any possible corrections to the respective component can be made.

In Figure 3, substantially the same embodiment of the food packaging line according to Figure 1 is represented, with the difference that in the present case no dedicated control system is provided for the component 6. The control system 3.6 of the component 6 is integrated here in the component 7 and is operated from the operator control unit 2.7 of the latter. The data/command exchange between the component 6 and the control system 3.6 is symbolized by the double-headed arrow 8. A person skilled in the art appreciates that the control systems 3.6, 3.7 may be one unit.

List of designations: 1 food packaging line 2 operator control unit, mobile operator control unit 2.5 operator control unit 2.6 operator control unit 2.7 operator control unit 3.5 local control system, local stored-program controller,

local SPC 3.6 local control system, local stored-program controller,

local SPC 3.7 local control system, local stored-program controller,

local SPC 4 closed-loop/open-loop line control system 5 component of the line 6 component of the line 7 component of the line, packaging machine 8 data/command transfer between the component and the local control system

Claims

A packaging line, in particular a food packaging line with a packaging machine (7) and at least one additional component (5, 6), the packaging machine (7) and the component (5, 6) each having a local control (3.5, 3.6, 3.7) and the packaging line has a line control / control (4), the packaging machine (7) and each component (5, 6) each having an operating unit (2.5, 2.6, 2.7), characterized in that the line control / control (4) is operably actuated from multiple controls, preferably from all (2.5, 2.6, 2.7).

Packaging line, in particular food packaging line according to claim 1, characterized in that data can be retrieved from each packaging unit (2.5, 2.6, 2.7) from the packaging machine and any other component of the food packaging line (7).

Packaging line, especially food packaging line according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a particularly mobile operating unit (2) for the packaging machine (7) and each additional component (5, 6).

Packaging line, especially food packaging line according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the local controls (3.5, 3.6, 3.7) bidirectively exchange data and / or orders.

A method of operating a packaging line, in particular a food packaging line with a packaging machine (7) and at least one additional component (5, 6), the packaging machine (7) and each component (5, 6) each having a local control ( 3.5, 3.6, 3.7) and the packaging line has a line control / control (4), wherein the packaging machine (7) and component (5, 6) each have an operating unit (2.5, 2.6, 2.7), characterized in that with each control unit (2.5, 2.6, 2.7) activates the line control / control to control, ie also start and / or stop, the packaging machine and at least one additional component.

Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the packaging machine (7) and the additional component (5, 6) are stopped or started in a certain order.

Method according to one of Claims 5 or 6, characterized in that each local control (3.5, 3.6, 3.7) initiates and / or controls a predefined sequence of functions.

Method according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in that a change of recipe is carried out from any control unit (2.5, 2.6, 2.7).

Method according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the packaging machine (7) or another component gives an error message and that the food packaging line after the fault has been repaired on this packaging machine (7) or another component is restarted by the control unit (2.5, 2.6, 2.7) for the defective packaging machine (7) or component (5, 6).

Method according to one of claims 5-9, characterized in that an error message is acknowledged on the packaging machine (7) or another component from any control unit (2.5, 2.6, 2.7).

Method according to one of claims 5 - 10, characterized in that status requests for the packaging machine (7) or another component are requested from any control unit (2.5, 2.6, 2.7).